Author Topic: Things in your life that you will remember  (Read 28365 times)

Offline RouxB

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Re: Things in your life that you will remember
« Reply #20 on: March 19, 2012, 04:31:26 pm »
I remember a wonderful road trip in the fall on 2005, before this thing got a hold of me, five wonderful days on the deserted Pacific Coast highway, from San Francisco to Seattle, twisting and turning with the ever present ocean blowing rain. It was a joy. I hope to do the southern part one day.

Yeah cause you haven't been to visit me!

Heathen

Offline jstephens9

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Re: Things in your life that you will remember
« Reply #21 on: March 31, 2012, 03:41:10 am »
You all thought you got rid of me.....lol.....well you know I always have to come here to share things that I don't feel comfortable sharing elsewhere  ;)

“Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” and “Glory Bound”……..songs such as these reminds me of a time probably around the summer of 1972……when a never ending memory happened to me. These songs always and will always remind me of a guy named Bill Stockton from Cincinnati, Ohio who I have never seen again since the morning I left Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. People in general don’t seem to realize that people who are growing up “gay” have the same thoughts, feelings, or whatever you want to call them that “straight” people do. I have absolutely no idea if Bill was gay or straight. It didn’t really matter at the time. I felt a connection to him and I will never forget him. When my parents left the beach that morning I cried to myself all the way back cause I knew I would never see him again. He made an impression on me that still lives today and that was decades ago. I think it is safe to say that I will never forget him as long as my mind continues to remember things. I have wished so many times that I could go back and relive those moments again.

I really have never forgotten those few short days or any of the events when I met Bill that summer. Some of it is a little foggy, but not too much so. My parents and I were staying at the Yachtsman which at the time was new and did not have the center tower as it does now. In fact there may have only been one part of the hotel at that time. I was at the pool and I honestly do not remember for sure if it was me smoking a cigarette or him. I think it must have been me. All I know is I saw a guy there at the pool that day that would become ingrained in my mind forever. I seriously would not be able to tell anyone now what he looked like. It was one of those things that was so strong the mental part of it really takes over in my mind what he looked like. I know he looked great. That much is for sure. Anyway, I was looking at him, but not staring at him. He came up to me and I believe did ask for a cigarette. I gave him one and we started talking. I have no idea what we did talk about. All I know is I had those feelings that have remained so rare over the rest of my life. You know it is those feelings you cannot put into words. It was a connection and I’m sure he felt it too.

I think at some point that day after we talked and were in the pool that we went up to his family’s hotel room and had sandwiches. I remember his father saying that their last name was Stockton like the town in California. Bill and I made plans to go to the Pavilion that night which was the big amusement park there, but I had to get my parents to go out to eat earlier than usual. I remember I worked so hard at that cause my main thoughts were about spending time with him. We did get back in time, but Bill was nowhere to be found. I remember my heart sank if I even knew at the time what that was. It turned out Bill was stuck in the elevator at the hotel. Finally, I knew what was going on and eventually they got him out. We went out to the Pavilion and of course we were supposed to be looking for girls. I don’t think we really were cause when we found some we both ended up not wanting to have anything to do with them. I remember us standing in line to ride the Octopus……I even remember exactly where it was located in the park. He was telling me that it would be his last summer to do things like that cause he was joining the service. He said he was 18, but even then I really did not believe that. I think I was maybe 14 or 15, but I was saying I was 17. You know what it is like during those years. That was our night and our only night. The next morning my parents were ready to leave since it was time for the vacation to end. I remember going up to where his room was, but it was too early to see Bill again. I’m sure he and his family were still asleep. I wish I could or would have left a note so that maybe he would get in touch with me again, but I didn’t. Instead I laid in the back seat of the car crying all the way back very secretly to myself. Sure I was sad to leave the beach, but I was sadder to leave Bill. I even thought of ways to try to get back down there before he left, but of course I couldn’t. I never was to see him again. I have wondered over the years what may have happened to him. I guess that will always remain a mystery. All these years later after so much has gone on in my life I still think of him and that time. If only I could have seen him one more time. I know how rare it really is to feel a connection with someone that strong.

Offline Sason

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Re: Things in your life that you will remember
« Reply #22 on: March 31, 2012, 09:04:02 am »
Did you ever consider searching for him via Google or Facebook?

Düva pööp is a förce of natüre

Offline jstephens9

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Re: Things in your life that you will remember
« Reply #23 on: March 31, 2012, 07:40:55 pm »
Did you ever consider searching for him via Google or Facebook?

I believe I have tried that route. I remember years ago trying to find him by calling phone numbers of people with that last name in Cinncinati. That didn't work either and it was very time consuming  ;) Do you know of any of the people searches where you can really find people? I have looked for people before, but I always end up at a page wanting me to pay to find someone. That would be ok if it truly worked. I don't know if it does. Have you had any experience with those paid people search sites? Thanks for suggesting this  :)

Offline Sason

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Re: Things in your life that you will remember
« Reply #24 on: April 01, 2012, 08:07:16 am »
I have limited experience of searcing people myself, as here in Sweden it's usually easy to find anyone you're looking for.

But if he's on Facebook it shouldn't be a problem to find him, just type his name in the search box on top of the page ( I know, it took me a long time to notice it's even there too  :laugh:).  You may have to go through a lot of people with the same name, though.

Or try Google. I once found a long-ago-friend through googling her. I simply typed her name in, went through all the results, and found her due to the context her name was mentioned in. (I knew she lived in Spain, and the search result mentioning her name was in Spanish) It may have helped though, that her name is typically Swedish and not too common, which probably limits the number of search results. But, at least it's worth a try.


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Offline jstephens9

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Re: Things in your life that you will remember
« Reply #25 on: April 02, 2012, 03:25:35 pm »
I did try searching for him as you suggested, but with no luck. I wouldn't have any idea what he might be up to now or where he might live. I guess it was just one of those summer things and was only destined to happen once  :(

Offline Sason

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Re: Things in your life that you will remember
« Reply #26 on: April 02, 2012, 03:32:19 pm »
Sorry it wasn't successful for you.

Maybe someone else has a better idea.

Düva pööp is a förce of natüre

Offline Shakesthecoffecan

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Re: Things in your life that you will remember
« Reply #27 on: April 02, 2012, 04:05:02 pm »
Jack, try this:

http://www.ntis.gov/products/ssa-online.aspx

it is the Social Security Death Index. I have found people here, its not totally complete and I know you don't want to find people here, but it might be an answer.
"It was only you in my life, and it will always be only you, Jack, I swear."